The Victoria West: earliest prepared core technology in the Acheulean at Canteen Kopje and implications for the cognitive evolution of early hominids.

Hao Li,Kathleen Kuman,Matt G Lotter,Ryan J Gibbon,George M Leader

doi:10.1098/rsos.170288

Abstract

Prepared core technology illustrates in-depth planning and the presence of a mental template during the core reduction process. This technology is, therefore, a significant indicator in studying the evolution of abstract thought and the cognitive abilities of hominids. Here, we report on Victoria West cores excavated from the Canteen Kopje site in central South Africa, with a preliminary age estimate of approximately 1 Ma (million years ago) for these cores. Technological analysis shows that the Victoria West cores bear similarities to the ‘Volumetric Concept’ as defined for the Levallois, a popular and widely distributed prepared core technology from at least 200 ka (thousand years ago). Although these similarities are present, several notable differences also occur that make the Victoria West a unique and distinctive prepared core technology; these are: elongated and convergent core shapes, consistent blow directions for flake removal, a predominance of large side-struck flakes, and the use of these flakes to make Acheulean large cutting tools. This innovative core reduction strategy at Canteen Kopje extends the roots of prepared core technology to the latter part of the Early Acheulean and clearly demonstrates an increase in the cognitive abilities and complexities of hominids in this time period.

Highlights

The Acheulean has long been regarded as a highly successful, stable technological adaptation [1,2,3,4,5]
According to the Levallois Volumetric Concept proposed by Boëda [40,41], the volume of a prepared core is shaped in terms of two intersecting asymmetrical surfaces
Compared with the Levallois Volumetric Concept proposed by Boëda [40,41], similar procedures are evident in the preparation and reduction of Victoria West cores and these include: (i) careful radial knapping of two hierarchically related asymmetrical surfaces; (ii) maintenance of lateral and distal convexities for the detachment of the predetermined preferential flakes; (iii) the sub-parallel angle of the large negative flake impressions in relation to the plane of intersection of the two core surfaces; (iv) the nearly perpendicular orientation of the striking platforms relative to the technological axes of preferential flakes; and (v) freehand hard hammer percussion for the final removals

Summary

Introduction

The Acheulean (approx. 1.7–0.3 Ma) has long been regarded as a highly successful, stable technological adaptation [1,2,3,4,5]. In the Eurasian continent, the Acheulean techno-complex occurs earliest at the Attirampakkam site in India at approximately 1.5 Ma and in the Ubeidiya site in Israel at approximately 1.4 Ma, and is gradually replaced by the Middle Palaeolithic techno-complex at around 200 ka [10,11,12] The mismatch between this long time span and the lack of technological innovations in the Acheulean was referred to as part of Isaac’s ‘great puzzle’ [13,14]. The earliest hafting, which requires multi-tasking and an understanding of the composite tool concept [17], has been suggested for points at Kathu Pan 1 [18] In addition to these developments in lithic technology, the preservation of organic remains shows innovations in the Acheulean, the most exciting being the controlled use of fire. It is clear that during the Acheulean we see several important changes in technological development, all of which contribute significantly to improving our understanding of hominid behavioural and cognitive evolution; most of these innovations occur during the Middle and Later Acheulean (1.0–0.3 Ma; [8])

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Results

Discussion

Conclusion